Thuja plant named &#39;SMNTOBAB&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Thuja cultivar named ‘SMNTOBAB’ is disclosed, characterized by a dwarf plant habit with rapid growth. Plants have distinctive ball-shaped plant habit well-suited for container cultivation. Plants are very cold hardy. The new cultivar is a Thuja, suitable for ornamental garden purposes.

Latin name of the genus and species: Thuja occidentalis.

Variety denomination: ‘SMNTOBAB’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar, hereinafter referred to as ‘SMNTOBAB’, was discovered by the inventor, Timothy Wood, in a commercial nursery in Grand Haven, Mich. This new discovery is the result of an open-pollination of the seed parent Thuja occidentalis ‘Brandon’(unpatented) with unidentified pollen parents conducted during 2003.

The new variety was first identified as an interesting new plant during 2007 at the same commercial nursery in Grand Haven, Mich. After identifying the new variety as a potentially interesting selection, the inventor first organized propagation of ‘SMNTOBAB’ by softwood cuttings at the same commercial nursery during 2007. The inventor continued controlled testing and propagation, assessing stability of the unique characteristics of this variety. At least five generations have been reproduced and have shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘SMNTOBAB’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘SMNTOBAB’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘SMNTOBAB’ as a new and distinct Thuja cultivar:

-   -   1. Fast growing dwarf plant.     -   2. Very cold hardy.     -   3. Good container plant.

COMPARISON TO PARENT VARIETY

‘SMNTOBAB’ is similar in most horticultural characteristics to the parent variety Thuja occidentalis ‘Brandon’. Plants of the new cultivar ‘SMNTOBAB’ however, differ in the following way:

-   -   1. New cultivar is a dwarf ball shaped plant; parent is a         taller, upright plant.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Thuja ‘SMNTOBAB’ can be compared to the commercial variety Thuja ‘Anna Von Vloten’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,868. Plants are similar in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new variety differ in the following:

-   -   1. ‘SMNTOBAB’ has darker green foliage, this comparator has lime         green foliage.     -   2. ‘SMNTOBAB’ is more compact in plant habit than this         comparator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘SMNTOBAB’ grown outdoors in Grand Haven, Mich. The plant is approximately 2 years old, and is shown in the ground.

FIG. 2 shows a close up of typical foliage of the new variety. The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2015 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘SMNTOBAB’ plants grown outdoors in Grand Haven Mich. Plants are approximately 2-3 years old, in a 3 gallon nursery container. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Thuja occidentalis ‘SMNTOBAB’. -   Propagation:     -   -   Time to rooting.—60 to 90 days at approximately 40-50° F.         -   Root description.—Thick to fine, fibrous and fleshy, freely             branching. Colored white and tan, not accurately measured             with the R.H.S. chart. -   Plant:     -   -   Growth habit.—Dwarf, ball shaped.         -   Height.—37 cm.         -   Plant spread.—55 cm.         -   Typical growth rate.—Rapid.         -   Pinching required.—Yes, minimal pinching forms a more round             plant.         -   Branching characteristics.—Outwards and upwards.         -   Length of lateral branches.—23 cm.         -   Average number of lateral branches.—About 100.         -   Diameter of lateral branches.—5 mm.         -   Lateral branch shape in cross section.—Oval.         -   Lateral branch texture.—Rough, somewhat scaly.         -   Lateral branch color.—Brown N200.         -   Lateral branch strength.—Very strong.         -   Internode length.—1 cm. -   Foliage:     -   -   Leaf.—Arrangement: Alternate, overlapping scales. Shape:             Scales. Average Length: 1.5 mm. Average Width: 1 mm. Apex:             Acuminate. Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire. Texture of top             surface: Waxy. Texture of bottom surface: Waxy. Color: Young             foliage upper side: Green 139B. Young foliage under side:             Green 143A. Mature foliage upper side: Green 139B. Mature             foliage under side: Green 143A. Venation: Indistinguishable             from leaf blade. Fragrance: None. -   Flower: Flowering not observed. -   Other characteristics:     -   -   Disease and pest resistance.—Neither resistance nor             susceptibility observed.         -   Drought tolerance.—No tolerance for drought.         -   Temperature tolerance.—−29° C. to 39° C. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Thuja plant named ‘SMNTOBAB’ as herein illustrated and described. 